Nice!

I have to say, this one was a great show. The entire first set is high energy and awesome.
H>S>F needs no further praise. While better versions may have been played later, that doesn't mean this one isn't stellar, plus, it had the added "breakout" euphoria attached. At the time, I thought they were going to play Shakedown as an opener (which would've had me jumping for joy)...... I can't believe I was overjoyed NOT to get a Shakedown......lol.
Almost all of the second set is as strong as the first. I recall the boys getting spacier and jammier than they had been in '87 and '88. This second set is a good example of this. I feel like I can hear a flagging of energy during Miracle>The Wheel, but Phil and Brent step up and bring it back with Gimme Some Lovin', and the Morning Dew is simply off the hook. Another sweet breakout for the encore, and you've got one for the history books. Certainly a highlight for this era of the Dead. As I left the show, I was thinking, "that'll be a tough one to beat." Little did we know what was in store for us the next night. Thanks for all those wonderful times, Grateful Dead!
UPDATE: I just finished listening to the next night's show, and I have to say, that of the two, the band played better on this night. Of course, that fact will always be overshadowed by the Dark Star breakout, but I sincerely believe that this was the better played of the two shows.

For the few of you who don't know the story, these were "secret" shows. They were not announced on the hotline (or anywhere else) and were booked as "formerly the Warlocks" (even the ticket stubs say that - no mention whatsoever of "Grateful Dead." So unless you were firmly on the bus, or lucky enough to live in the area, you didn't see these shows. My buddy Bill P and I were in the front row between Jerry and Brent. The air was thick with expectation for sure. Everyone was throwing out all the theories as to what we'd hear. Rumors flew as to what the boys had been soundchecking lately, etc. The first set, of course, smoked. Seeing Jerry with the old wolf guitar (listen for an extra loud cheer for "old guitar" in Candyman) hooked up with the MIDI wires, you knew it was gunna go off. When they came out for the second set and started tuning with those obvious notes, it was incredible. As someone who'd experienced his first show in 85, I was ready to get hit with some break-out songs that I'd never heard before, and was not disappointed. The performance was stellar. Yes, as they sorted H>S>F out, they did do some that were better, but I saw most of those and the energy never compared to the energy of this one, IMHO. Later after the show, we all debated what would happen the next night. Dark Star was thrown about with lots of "knock of wood" references, etc. But we all agreed that no matter what happened the next night, we had just witnessed one of the best shows the boys had played in a long long long time.

This show and remaster of recording is a full out 5 on both counts. Even Me and My Uncle is rewarding. The Morning Dew will uncurl dreadlocks.

I know for a fact that there exists a 24 track DSBD and 5 camera pro-shot video hanging in the Vault which GD Prods recorded and shot (they have excellent footage and audio for many of the late 89, early 90 tours) for eventual commercial release. Someday you gotta figure this show (and the next night) shall be released as a DVD on Rhino, or whomever, and thus shall remove this show from the Archives. All I can say is that that shall be a bittersweet moment for me. This show is about as perfect in reproduction as it gets ~ IMHO.

This has got to be one of the best, longest Slipknots ever played, whether it be 70s, 80s or 90s. Notice how they tease the final drop-in to Franklin's not once but TWICE, and then, at the last minute each time, artfully yank us back into another swirling set of the signature slipknot chord changes. I was in the hallway at Hampton when this happened, and it still remains one of my favorite instrumental moments of any show I ever attended. The spin-dancers really looked as if they were going to take off into orbit - the energy and sheer joy that saturated the place was amazing.

Of course the next night was no slouch either...

twas the first help since 9-12-85...

Brent i awesome on this! He's all over the songs like he owns them!

and I'm not afraid to say that Queen Jane - brought tears to my eyes, and i'm at work!

beloved Grateful Dead - why did it have to end?!?!

was not there, but love this show. Solid throughout. I have video of this and weir goes to garcia right before GSL and asks him to segue into something else. garcia gives him a dirty look and Weir then shrugs his shoulders to the drummers as if the say, "i tried" If anybody knows what that was about, I'd love to know.

the energy level to end the first set, at the end of Promised, just EXPLODED. Second set Help On The Way-> Slipknot!-> Franklin's Tower, Victim Or The Crime-> Eyes Of The World hell of a way to start it off! wowo.

Yeah. It was a big party on the floor that night. And the next night....

Also, check out the Help>Slips from 6/15/90 and 6/24/90 - they're first setters but killers!! That RFK 91 is probably the one though.

The Warlocks truly came out in full force on this night. I would only disagree with Waves1000 on the Help-->Slip; in my mind, 3-30-90 and 6-14-91, especially, surpass this one: but let me make clear, it's still mind-blowing.

This is one I have been looking for ... yes the next night justifiably overshadows it, but any self-respecting Deadhead who overlooks this show is making a big mistake.

I'll never forget it -- Jerry came out with this LONG flowing mane of hair and the old Wolf guitar rigged up with the full midi setup. He had played all summer just going to the midi rig during Space only, but now he would have it for the whole show...hmmmmm.

Great Foolish Heart out of the box and through an excellent first set - fantastic Bird Song to be sure, but don't miss the Promised Land that got the hometown crowd really roaring. I remember someone throwing an inflatable Godzilla up onstage during this song...by the time the band got to the "gimme Norfolk Virginia, Tidewater 4-10-0-9.." line, the spaceship was ready for liftoff!

Second set...you can hear the tunings and we were looking at each other in stunned disbelief. Could it be?? Really?? YESSS!!!! For me, the energy and execution of this version make it the best of all the "modern" Help>Slip>Franklins - plus it was my very first one - Jerry's vocals at the end of Franklin's are off the hook! The rest of the set continues at a very high level until the band slides into a Morning Dew that will leave you absolutely speechless. Miss this version at your own peril.

A final note...that night my buddies and I went to the Denny's to call our friends and rave about the H>S>F (and admittedly rub it in a bit). After the phone call a very heady looking gentleman stopped us in the hallway and told us he had heard that even bigger things were planned for the following night - "Attics man...Attics!" We kind of looked at him funny - as that song hadnt been played in so long we only knew it from American Beauty. Besides, we were still so pumped from what we had just seen we couldnt conceive of what was still to come...

over the previous SBD.

Great versions of Bird Song, Help>Slip>Franklins.
The Morning Dew rivals that from 7/19/89.

Obviously the next night gets all the hype (and for good reason) but 10/8/89 has its place as one of the best from the year if not from the 80's.

MIDI at its finest.